convention speeches and maybe not the best convention speech of the week, adistinctionmichelleobamaorpresident clinton could make. because of realities, the president decided that had to trump soaring rhetoric. >> madam chairwoman, delegates, i accept your nomination for president of the united states. >> reporter: facing the political fight of his life, the 44th president of the united states made the case for his re-election, asking americans to stick with him for another four years despite tough economic times. >> our problems can be solved, our challenges can be met. the path we offer may be harder but it leads to a better place, and i'm asking you to choose that future. >> reporter: four years later the president felt he had to appeal to voters exhausted by the tone of american politics. >> i know campaigns may seem small, even sill sly sometimes. trivial things become big attractions. if you're sick of me approving this message, believe me, so am i. >> reporter: but obama pulled no punches when it came to his republican rival. his references to opponent turned him into a pun

. [cheers] no one could tell it as wellasmichelleobama, asyou did last night, on monday night. i know him from a different perspective. i know him and i want to show you the character of a leader who had what it took when the american people stood on the brink of a new depression. a leader who has what it takes to lead us over the next four years to the future as great as our people. i want to take you inside the white house to see the president as i see him every day. i didn't see him and sound bites. i walked 30 paces down the hall and i see him. i watch him in action. four years ago, the middle class was already losing ground and then the bottom fell out. the financial crisis hit piece sledgehammer. all the people i grew up with. you remember the headlines. you saw some in the previews. highlight, highest job losses in 60 years. headlines, economy on the brink. it's plummet -- markets plummeted worldwide. he knew he had not only to restore the confidence of a nation but he had to restore the confidence of the whole world. [cheers] and he also knew that one false move could bring a

a specific thing they wanted todo.michelleobamadidthe character. bill clinton did the unprecedented economic argument. and then president obama did the, you know, hey, the -- made the case for looking forward. each night seemed to have a theme that fit together. look at tampa. you did not have the same thing. it was all about trying to fix the likability ratings, but not a lot of memorable specific details for instance on what a mitt romney presidency would look like. >> yeah. and democrats have been chiding the republicans for not putting more meat on the bones on their ideas. on the other hand, the president's advisers promised there would be specifics in the speech. did you hear any new policy or substance? >> i heard nothing new. more of a -- you know, look, the incumbent trying to make the don't change horses in midstream and making the case that the same ideas he's been advocating that haven't been passed. he will now push to try to them be passed. you didn't hear, you know what, this is going to be how we'll deal with the debt and deficit or entitlement reform or how we'll de